Suture-clamp.



No. 709,392. Patented Sept. I6, I902;

H. Baowu.

SUTUBE CLAMP.

{Application filed May 6, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

Patented Sept. 16, I902. H. BROWN. SUTURE CLAMP.

Application fiIedMay 6, 1902.

(No Model.) 2 sheets sneet 2. I

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NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HAYDN BROWN, OF SURBITON HILL, ENGLAND.

SUTU RE-CLAM P.

ifSPEQIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 709,392, dated September 16,1902

Application filed May 6, 1902. Serial No. 106,218. (No model.)

T (1, whom, il JWT/CI/y concern.-

Be it known that I, HAYDN BROWN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland,

residing at Mount Nelson,Ki ng Charles Road Surbiton Hill, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Suture-Clamp; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its especial object to provide means for use in substitution for sewing for keeping in apposition the edges of surgical incisions and wounds, so that they join in healing; but the devices according to my invention may be used for other clamping or binding purposes. For simplicity of description I will presume that the devices are to be applied in keeping in apposition the edges of surgical incisions, as fromthis description of its use its general application will also be understood.

The clamp or binding device according to my invention consists of two sharpened prongs connected by a bridge-piece or crossbar, the said sharpened prongs being so curved each in the same direction as the other that the clamp or binder can be inserted and withdrawn by a movement of rotation. For this purpose the two prongs are made semicircles or portions of circles,both having the same radius and lying in parallel planes, and are connected by a bridge-piece at right angles to those planes, such connectingbridge being preferably at the circumference of these semicircles, so that by means of the clamp grasping this bridge-piece the sharpened prongs by the movement of rotation will simultaneously penetrate the flesh on the opposite sides of the incision and when the said prongs are fullyinserted the bridgepiece or cross-bar lying across the incision, so that the clamp or hinder holds the edges of the incision inapposition until they have cross-bar connecting the prongs holds the edges of the incision in close contact.

The clamp or binder is preferably made from stiff wire; butit maybe made from sheet metal by stamping and afterward shaping.

To insert and withdraw the clamp or hinder, I provide a gripping instrument with jaws and handles pivoted together like pincers, the jaws being at such an angle to the handles that the handles are ataconvenient elevation. for the operator when the instrument isin use. The gripping-faces of thesaid jaws are roughened, grooved, or otherwise formed so as to adord a good grip, and they are so relatively disposed that they are parallel to each other when they are at a distance apart equal to the thickness of the bridge-piece or cross-bar 0f the clamp or hinder, so that they grip the said bridge piece or cross-bar throughout their length.

The accompanying drawings represent devices according to my invention.

Figure 1 shows the clamp or binderin perspective. Fig. 2 indicates by dotted lines and full lines the movement which is given to the clamp or binder in inserting and withdrawing it. Fig. 3 shows it about to be inserted in the flesh on opposite sides of anincision, and Fig. 4 shows it after it has been inserted. Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications. Fig. '7 represents the device for use ininserting and withdrawing the clamp or binder; and Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the jaws thereof on the line 1 2, Fig. 7.

The sharpened prongs of the clamp or binderare marked a, and the bridge-piece or cross-bar connecting them is marked 1). The said clamp or binder is shown as being made of round wire; but it maybe made from wire of other cross-section or the blank therefor be punched out of sheet metal. To insert the clamp or hinder, its pointed prongs are placed with the points one on one side and the other on the other side of the incision, (represented at c in Figs. 3 and 4,) the bridge-piece or cross-bar I) being grasped between the jaws of the gripping device, Figs. 7 and 8, and a movement of rotation around the center from which the curves of the prongs are'struck is given to the clampor binder, (from the dotted position to the full position in Fig. 2,) so that the prongs enter the flesh on each side of the incision, the points of the prongs first descending and then ascending until the bridge-piece or cross-barb lies close to the flesh and across the incision, as shown in Fig. 4. The bridgepiece or cross-bar b may be made in a line between the centers of the curves of the prongs and be connected to the prongs by continuations 6 as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows the bridge-piece or cross-bar b and the parts merging into the prongs a flattened to give greater lateral strength to the clamp or binder. The angles only may be thus flattened or the whole of the wire may be flattened before bending around the prongs a. The prongs a may be made of sufficient length to allow of their protruding upward from the flesh when fully inserted,'so that they can be bent down to give an absolutely tight hold.

The jaws d d of the device, Figs. 7 and 8, for use in insertingand withdrawing the aforesaid clamp or hinder are made so that their inner or gripping surfaces are parallel to each other when they grip the opposite sides of the bridge-piece or cross-bar 1). Their bearingsurfaces may be roughened or made with ridges or furrows or of waved form andpreferably somewhat blunt. The jaws are set at an angle, as shown, so that the handles are in convenient position when the device is in use. The outer sides of the jaws should be rounded, as shown, and the lower or outer side of the lower jaw should be straight as well as rounded and parallel with the gripping-surface, so that when the bridge-piece or cross-bar of the clamp or binder is grasped lengthwise between the jaws the said lower or outer side of the lower jaw constitutes a rolling bearing or fulcrum bearing on the surface, so that the instrument and clamp or hinder can be rotated thereon in inserting and withdrawing the clamp or binder. The handles are preferably formed as shown, so as to aiford a good hold and yet not present crevices, which cannot be easily cleaned. The joint at e is preferably of the kind known as an aseptic joint.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim as my invention 1. A clamp for surgical purposes, comprising semicircular prongs lying in parallel planes and curved in the same direction and a bridge-piece connecting them, substantially as described.

2. A clamp for surgical purposes, comprising semicircular prongs lying in parallel planes and curved in the same direction, a bridge-piece at right angles to. the prongs and connecting them substantially at the circumference of the semicircle, said bridge-piece and prongs formed of the same strip and bent into position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afitix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAYDN BROWN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM GERALD REYNOLDS, PERCY READ GOLDRUN. 

